Sheet-feeding apparatus



. v Jan. 28, 1930- A. BROADMEYER SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 1924 m M. w

Jan.28,l930. I A.BROADMEYER SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27, 1924 s sneets sneat -2 1,744,&64

' Jan. 28, 1930. A. BROADMEYER' SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 21, 1924 m n M Patented Jan. 28, 193G UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE ALBERT BBOADMEYER', on HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE w. 0.

HICKOK MFG, oo.-, OF'HARRISIBUEG, PENNSYLVANIA, A conroimrroiwor PENN- SYLVANIA SHEET-FEEDING APJEARATUS'" Application filed September 27, 1924. S, eria1:No. 740,290.

This invention is particularly intended for temporarily holding sheets in position to be fed or moved by sheet-delivering means.

In the modern machines where sheets are successively presented to a feeding device and are brought by a conveyer against a stop, the rapidity With which the sheets are carried causes them to strike the stop With considerable force, as a consequence of which they are apt to rebound and thus not be accurately positioned when engaged by the feed ing or delivering device.

It is the primary object of the present 1nvention to provide simple and practicable mechanism for preventing this rebound or in other words, holding the sheet in the proper position when it is brought thereto.

An embodiment of the invention applied to means for changing the direction of feed of sheets is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein: p Figure 1 is a plan view apparatus equipped with the improvement,

Figure 2 isa side elevation of the same,

Figure 3is a detail'sectional view showing the suction controlling means,

Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on the lined-4: of Figure 3 and'illustralting the two positions of the controlling valve,

pipe and 'stantia'lly to that illustrated in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 719,893, filed June 13, 1924. -T V The delivery cords on which sheets are successively carried are illustrated at 14- and pass around a'roller 15. A frame 16has mounted therein a "plurality of supporting rods 17 extending in rear and longitudinally of the cords 14. These rods are preferably angular in cross section. Located between the said rods are carrier tapes -18 constituting a sheet conveyor and passingaroi'ind pulleys 19 at the rear end of the frame, said pulleys being carried by a-shaft-20 driven of a portion of an Figure 6 is a detail sectional View on an by a suitable" sprocket chain, a portion of which is shown at 21. Arranged above thehorizontal plane of the bars 17 and tapes18; areendless cords 22 arranged in pairs, the rear. portions passing around aroller 23, the

carried by swinging arms 25 that permit the cords-22 to rest on the roller 15.. Thearms. 25 are slidably mounted on a pivot rod 26-so that-the pairs of cords may be spaced different distances apart; Thus adjustment is per? mitted and the arms 25 are held by suitable collars-27 slidable on the rod 26'and located between the bifurcated ends of the arms 25, as illustrated in Figure 1. Thesecollars are inturn: secured bysuitable set screws 28. A stop bar 29 is slidably mounted on the rods 17 .and extends transversely across the path of sheets-delivered by the cords 14 between the tapeslSand cords 22.

Attheside of the frame 16 and extending longitudinally of the rod17 and tapes 18, isa shaft 30. driven from any? suitable source sprocket; wheel 32 on the rear end of said =55 front portions being mountedv on..pulleys 2 k shaft; The shaft is provided-With a keyway 33 and slidably mounted on said shaft' is a-suction head 3a carrying a key 35 slid ably engaged in the key 33.

The suction head has longitudinal lines of suction openings 36 through itsperiphery, which openings communicate With longitudinal bores 37 that open through one end of the head and these bores 37 in turn communicate through ports 38 with an inner set of longitudinalbores 39,'also opening through the same end of the head. This end of said head is provided with a reduced gudgeon 40 rotatable in a collar 41, the 'gudgeon bein'gheld in place bylock nuts 42. The collar ll has an offset neck 43' slidably mounted on a guide rod 44 and said collar furthermore has a tubular stem 45,-thebore l6-of which is in communi f cation with a port 47. The open ends of the bores 39 successively pass the port 47v and" when in line therewith the: open ends of the bores or chambers 37-are closed by the collar.

Mounted on the adjustable stop bar 29 isia. suction: conduit or pipe 48.- Th-is pipe is prolllil' vided with a plurality of heads 49 that extend upwardly to substantially the level of the rods 17 and have upper downwardly curved faces 50 that permit the sheets to pass thereover. Through these heads are suction or intake ports 51. The tube 48 is clamped to the bar 29 by clips 52 formed on the heads 49 and embracing the lower portion of the bar. Set screws 53 serve to clamp the clips in place.

A suction pump is shown at 54, and leading therefrom is a suction conduit 55 connected to a nipple 56 on a Valve casing 57. The nipple 56 is provided with a port 57 formed opposite to another port 58 in an oppositely projecting nipple 59. A conduit 60, having one end on the nipple 59, is connected to the stem 45 of the suction head or roller 34. The casing 57 is provided with a valve chamber or bore 61 disposed transversely to the ports 57 and 58, and in said bore is a reciprooatory valve rod 62. This rod is provided with a cut-away portion 63 that is movable into and out of register with the ports 57 and 58, so as to afford communication between them and to cut off such communication. The valve rod 62 furthermore has a longitudinal bore opening through its free end and designated 64. This bore has at its inner end a lateral port 65, and said port is movable into and out of communication with the port 57, said com- "munication alternating with the communication of the cut-away portion 63. Fitted on the end of the valve rod through which the bore 64 opens, is a flexible conduit 66 which is connected to one end of the conduit 48, it being understood that the other end of said conduit 48 is closed.

The rod 62 is connected by a link 67 with a swinging arm 68 having a roller 69 that bears against a cam 7 0. It is held against this cam by a spring 71 connected to the arm 68. The cam 7 O is carried by a shaft 72 on which is a sprocket wheel 73 and this sprocket wheel is engaged by an endless sprocket chain 74 operated by any suitable means.

The operation of the mechanism is substantially as follows: Assuming the various mechanisms in operation, sheets will be successively delivered from the tapes 14 and will be caught by the rollers 24 and cords 22 and delivered on to the rods 17 and tapes 18 until stopped by the bar 29. The mechanism is so timed that just as a sheet strikes the bar the valve is positioned, as shown in Figure 4, in which case the vacuum caused by the pump 54 will obviously be through the conduits 16 and 48, so that air will enter through the ports 51 and cause the overlying sheet to be held. As the cam continues to rotate the valve will be shifted, bringing the cut-away portion 63 into line with the ports 57 and 58 and cutting off the port 65 from communication with the port 57. The suction will thus now take place through the conduit 60 and the feeding head or roller 34 so that the sheet will be engaged and carried away by the latter.

Inasmuch as these sheets ordinarily move with great speed their tendency to rebound after striking the stop is prevented and the sheets will be properly positioned to be op erated on by the roller 34.

From the foregoing, it is thought that the construction, operation and many advantages of the herein described invention will be ap parent to those skilled in the art, without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

WVhat I claim, is

1. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a stop, of means for moving the sheets to a position against the stop, normally inactive means for preventing the rebound of the sheets when they strike the stop, and means for causing the rebound preventing means to act upon the sheets as they are brought against the stop by the moving means and hold them against rebounding.

2. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a conveyor for conveying sheets, of a stop located transversely to the conveyor and in the path of the sheets carried thereby, normally inactive means for preventing the rebound of the sheets when they strike the stop, and means for causing the rebound preventing means to act upon the sheets as they are brought against the stop by the conveyor.

3. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a conveyor for conveying sheets, of a stop located transversely to the conveyor and adjustable to difiercnt positions longitudinally thereof along and in the path of sheets carried by the conveyor, normally inactive means for preventing the rebound of the sheets when they strike the stop, and means for causing the rebound preventing means to act upon the sheets as they are brought against the stop by the conveyor.

4. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a sheet conveyor, and means for successively delivering sheets thereto, of a stop in the path of and abutted against by the sheets when being moved by the conveyor, and a pneumatic device for acting on the sheets when they strike the stop to prevent their rebound therefrom.

5. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a sheet conveyor, and means for successively delivering sheets thereto, of a stop in the path of and abutted against by the sheets-when being moved by the conveyor, and a stationary pneumatic device adjacent the stop for acting on the sheets when they thus strike the stop to prevent their rebound therefrom.

6.7 In sheet=.feeding;apparatus, the combination with a sheet conveyor, and zmeans for successively deliveringgsheets thereto, of astop in the path of andabnttedagainst by the sheets when being moved by the con-c and against which sheets abut that are carried by the belts, a suction device at said stop, and means for creating suction: in the device to hold a sheet carried against the stop by the belts and preventing its material rebound away from the same.-

8. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a sheet conveyor, of a stop for the sheets in: the path of the same carried by the conveyor,-said stop being movable to difierent positions along the conveyor, and asuction device mounted on and movable-with the stop, said suction device having means for acting on the sheets brought against the stopby the conveyor for preventing their rebound away from the same.

9. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with endless sheet conveyor belts, of a stop that extends transversely thereof and against which sheets'abutthat'are carried by the belts, a suction device at said step, and means for creating suction on the device to hold a sheet carried against-the stop by the belts and preventing its material rebound away from the same, said stop and suction device together being adjustable longitudinally along the conveyor belts. I

10. In sheet feeding apparatus, the com bination with endless sheetcarrying belts, of

a stop bar extending across the belts and in the path of the sheets carried thereby-,and a suction pipe mounted on the baran-d having intake ports in front of the bar for operating on the sheets thatabut against the bar an'd' prevent their rebound. p

11. In sheet feedingapparatus, the combi nation with endless sheet carrying belts, of i a stop bar extending across the belts and in the path of the sheets carried thereby,- and a suction pipe mounted on the bar and having nozzles provided with intake ports adjacent to one face of the sheets and 'in'front of the bar for operating on the sheets that abut against the :bar and prevent their rebound.

12. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combi nation with endless sheet carrying;;belts,,,0f

a stop bar extending across thebeltsand in the path of the sheets carried thereby, andja suction pipe mounted onthe barand having nozzles provided with intake'ports adjacent V 1 engaged and fed away, from; the same vby the q to one faceofthesheets and-ingfront otthe bar r. for 1; operating 0nthe sheets that abut; against the bar and prevent their rebound, said ,barrand pipe: ,beingad-justable to dish; ferent positions alongthe ibelt's.

13. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combi natinawith; asheet conveyoryof :a stop inthe path ofithe-sheets carried bytheconveyor, a

suction device 'foroperating'; on the sheets carried by the conveyor against thesto to: prevent their rebound,a valve for-controlling suction through the device,- and means for operating-thevalve to open the-suction when;-.

; asheetisgbro'ught -againstthe-stop byth suction pipe having inlets in front of the bar;

and; in position to cause the suction to ,act on the sheets carried against theastopzby the. belts, a suction controlling valve, and means for operating the valve in .timed.'relati0n to. the abutment of the sheets against the stop;

15. In sheet feeding-apparatus,- the com; bination with sheet carrying :belts of :astop 1 bar for the sheets extending across the belts in the path ofcthe sheets-carried thereby, a. suction pipe having inlets infront of the'bar and inposition ;to cause the suctiona-toact, on the sheetscarried against the stop: by the; belts, a suction controlling valve,-means for, operating the valve in timed relation to the. abutment of. the sheets against the stop, said bar and pipe-being adjustable to different positions.along thebelts and a flexible conduit between the valveand pipethat permits said adjustment; v i

16-. In sheet feedingapparatug-the combi-.' nation with a pneumatic qsheet ifeeder, of a. stop for positioning sheets in aposition to be. engaged and moved by the feeder; a conveyor for;moving-thesheets to' a position against the stop and in position to be--fed from said 1 stop bythe feedeiyqpneumatic means-acting, on the sheets forxpreventing'rthe rebound :of said sheets 1 brought "against ;-the stop; by the i conveyor, and means for operatingthe rebound preventingmeans and the feederasalter-v' nately;

17 In sheet feeding apparatus, the combi-z l nation with; a pneumatic sheet 1 feeder, of 'a stop for:positioningsheets in aposition to be:

Cir

feeder, a conveyor for moving the sheets to a position against the stop, stationary pneumatic suction means located in advance of the stop and acting on the sheets when abutted against the stop for preventing the rebound ofsaid sheets brought'against the stop by the conveyor, and means for operating the rebound preventing means and the feeder alternately.

19. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a rotary suction feed roller, of conveyor belts for carrying sheets to be moved by the roller, a stop against which the sheets are brought by the belts and from which they are fed by the suction roller, suction means associated with the stop to prevent rebound of the sheets due to their impact against the stop under the influence of the belts, and means for creating suction alternately through the rebound preventing means and the suction roller.

20. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with a rotary suction feed roller, of conveyor belts for carrying sheets to be moved abythe roller, a stop against which the sheets are brought by the belts and from which they are fed by the suction roller, suction means associated with the stop to prevent rebound of the sheets due to their impact against the stop under the influence of the belts, a suction pump, a valve casing having communication therewith, branch conduits leading from the valve casing to the roller and rebound preventing means, a valve in the valve casing alternately-opening the pump to the branches, and means for operating the valve.

21. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with endless sheet conveyor belts, of a suction roller for removing sheets therefrom, a stop bar extending across the belts to stop the sheets in position to be removed from the belts and bar by the roller, suction means for preventing the rebound of the sheets when they strike the stop bar under movement by the belts, means for creating suction in the rebound preventing means when a sheet strikes the bar, and means for creating suction on the roller and releasing the suction in the rebound preventing means when a sheet has been stopped from rebounding.

22. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with endless sheet conveyor belts, of a suction roller for removing sheet-s there from, a stop bar extending across the belts to stop the sheets in position to be removed from the bar and belts by the roller, a stationary suction pipe having ports in advance of the stop for preventing the rebound of the sheets when they strike the stop bar under movement by the belts, a suction pump, a valve casing connected therto, branch conduits extending from the casing to the pipe and roller, a valve in the casing that alternately affords communication between the pump and the two conduits, and means for operating the valve.

23. The combination with sheet feeding means, of mechanism for presenting sheets to the feeding means, a stop for positioning the sheets presented, a suction conduit adjacent to the stop and having a plurality of heads against which the sheets rest when against the stop, said heads having inlet ports opening into the conduit, and means for creating suction in the conduit to create indrafts through the ports when a sheet is in the heads and against the stop.

24. The combination with sheet feeding means, of mechanism for presenting sheets to the feeding means, a stop bar located in the path of the sheets and adjustable to ditferent positions, a suction conduit mounted on the bar and adjustable therewith, said conduit having a plurality of heads against which the sheets rest, said heads having inlet ports opening into the conduit, and means for creating suction in the conduit to create indrafts through the ports.

In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with means for conveying sheets in one direction, of a feeding device for removing the sheets transversely to their path of movement by the conveyor, :1 stop across the path of the sheets when on the conveyor, pneumatic means for preventing the rebound of the sheets when carried against the stop by the conveyor, and means for intermittently operating the rebound preventing means.

26. In sheet feeding apparatus, the combination with means for conveying sheets in one direction, of a rotary suction roiler for removing the sheets transversely to their path of movement by the conveyor, a stop across the path of the sheets when 011 the conveyor, a suction device for preventing the rebound of the sheets when carried against the stop by the conveyor, and means for alternately creating suction through the roller and rebound preventing device.

27. The combination with sheet conveying means, of a stationary pneumatic device associated therewith for holding a sheet against movement, and means for intermittently operating the sheet holding device to cause the same to hold the sheets carried by said conveying means.

28. The combination with sheet conveying means, of a stationary pneumatic device associated therewith for holding a sheet against movement, a suction head having an air inlet port that is traversed by the sheets carried by the conveying means, and mechanism for causing suction through the head to cause the same to hold a sheet carried by the conveying means.

29. The combination with sheet conveying means, of a stationary suction head having an air inlet port that is traversed by the sheets carried by the conveying means, an exhaustcreating pump, a conduit extending from the pump to the port in the head and including a valve casing, a valve in the casing controlling communication between the pump and port, and means for actuating the valve to open such communication and cause a sheet carried by the conveying means to be held by the head.

30. The combination with sheet conveying means, of a fixed suction head having an air inlet port that is traversed by the sheets car- I ried by the conveying means, an exhaustcreating pump, a conduit extending from the pump to the port in the head and including a valve casing, a reciprocatory valve that is movable into and out of a position to afford communication between the pump and head port, and means for actuating the valve to open such communication and cause a sheet carried by the conveying means to be held by the head. i

31. The combination with sheet conveying means, of a pneumatic sheet feeding device cooperating therewith, a stationary pneumatically operated sheet stop device associated with the conveying means for holding the sheets against movement, and means for alternately operating the sheet feeding means and stop. I

32. The combination with sheet conveying means, of a pneumatic sheet feeding device for controlling the suction to cause it to op- Y erate alternately through one and then the other.

34. The combination with a sheet conveying means,'of a pneumatic suction feeding head associated therewith, a stationary pneumatic suction stop head also associated with the conveying means for holding the sheets against movement, an exhaust pump having exhaust conduits leading to the feeding and stop heads, and including a valve, and means for operating the valve to cause the exhaust to operate either through the feeding head or through the stop'head.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ALBERT BROADMEYER. 

